Kazan, Russia, July 17, 2013 – Russia's national
volleyball team have won gold at the Universiade Games after Sergey Shlyapnikov’s
team defeated Poland with the score of 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-19). That was the
third victory in a row at the Universiades for the volleyball players who also
won gold in Belgrade in 2009 and in Shenzhen in 2011.

Japan's
men’s team took the bronze medal of the tournament beating Ukraine in three
straight sets. Maksim Zhigalov from Russia’s national team (who plays for the Belogorie
Club) was named the most valuable player of the tournament.

Russia also
clinched gold in the women’s competition after they beat Brazil in the final with
the score of 3-2 (25-27, 25-21, 25-21, 16-25, 15-10). It was the eighth victory
of the women’s national team of Russia/Soviet Union at the Universiades. Russia’s
women’s team also won the World University Games in 1997, when they defeated
the United States in the final match.

Thailand took
third place in the women’s tournament after beating Poland with the score of
3-1.